Ulrich Rasche

Ulrich Rasche (born 1969) is a German director and stage designer.

Career

Rasche was born in Bochum. This city is located near Wuppertal, where the dance theater of Pina Bausch inspired him from a young age. He studied art history and comparative literature. He obtained a scholarship at The Watermill Center, founded and directed by Robert Wilson.

He began his career in 2002 with Harold Pinter's Betrayal at the Sophiensæle in Berlin. In 2004, he presented the choral project Singing! Immateriell Arbeiten at the Palace of the Republic in Berlin. At the Staatstheater Stuttgart, he has directed The Waves, based on Virginia Woolf (2007), Wilde's Salome (2009), and other works. In 2010, he presented a monologue after Mozart Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Sophiensæle.[1]

In 2017, he directed Friedrich Schiller's drama Die Räuber at Residenztheater in Munich[2], considered his break-through and receiving several awards.[3] A particular focus of his work there-after is on tragedies from ancient Greece, for example:

In 2024, he directed Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Schauspiel Bochum. He uses perpetual movement and intense lighting "to create visceral experiences for his audiences", so the Salzburg Festival.[5] His experience in Greek tragedy as well as his understanding of the ancient chorus as music and rhythm has led him step by step to the field of opera. His scenic trademark are mighty treadmills, rollers and turntables. The SZ wrote, ″Ulrich Rasche's stage designs push many theaters "to their limits and beyond," as the director himself says – and laments. Rasche is the formal drill master of German theater.″[3]

In 2022, he debuted as an opera director with Elektra at the Grand Théâtre de Genève. In 2023, he directed Bach's St John Passion at the Staatsoper Stuttgart. In 2025, he presented his version of Maria Stuarda at the Salzburg Festival. Conductor was Antonello Manacorda, the rival queens were sung by Kate Lindsey (Elisabetta) and Lisette Oropesa (Maria). It was a stunning success with public and press.[6]

Awards

Berliner Theatertreffen

Every year, the Berliner Theatertreffen presents the ten most notable productions in German language. The jury consists of seven well-known drama critics. Five of his works have been selected, but not all could be transferred to Berlin and shown there − due to the technical complexity of his scenographies. The selected productions were:

  • 2017 Die Räuber (Munich)
  • 2018 Woyzeck (Basel)[7]
  • 2019 Die Perser (Salzburg, Frankfurt/Main)
  • 2019 Das große Heft (Dresden)[8]
  • 2024 Nathan the Wise (Salzburg)[9]

References

  1. ^ nachtkritik.de: Klassische Exotik – politisiert und gesampelt, 10 February 2010
  2. ^ nachtkritik.de. Der kommende Laufstand, 23 September 2016
  3. ^ a b Süddeutsche Zeitung: Der formstrenge Exerziermeister des deutschen Theaters, 15 February 2019
  4. ^ Burg: Iphigenie auf Tauris, retrieved on 3 August 2025
  5. ^ Salzburg Festival: Ulrich Rasche, retrieved on 5 August 2025
  6. ^ BR-Klassik: RASCHE KREIST, OROPESA TRIUMPHIERT, 2 August 2025
  7. ^ Theatertreffen: Woyzeck, 17 May 2018
  8. ^ Theatertreffen: Das große Heft, 20 May 2019
  9. ^ Theatertreffen: Nathan der Weise, 2 May 2024
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